165: Chapter 165: The Curtain Falls and a New Song

Liu Yan stood there blankly, as if the life had been drained from her body.

Han Chunhua looked at Liu Yan's state, feeling frustrated that she failed to meet expectations.

Although she was extremely dissatisfied with Chen Shaoping's attitude, she had no time to worry about anything else.

Red rashes had broken out all over her body, itching intensely and making her feel incredibly miserable.

She wished she had a few more hands to scratch with.

Just then, General Director Zhang Quanzhi and Executive Director Xie Bo arrived at the dressing room.

Chen Shaoping glanced at them without lingering for long.

He had notified Zhang Quanzhi long ago, but for some reason, Director Zhang had only arrived now.

Chen Shaoping ignored the two of them and continued on his own.

"The white sap in this small bottle is called lacquer tree sap, an extremely potent allergen."

"Once you're affected, don't expect to recover for three to five days. It's incredibly itchy, though not fatal."

"Liu Yan wanted to use this to harm Zhou Bule, causing him to have an allergic reaction so he would lose his spot in the gala."

"After I interrupted her, she turned her shame into anger and started to bite back at me."

Hearing Chen Shaoping's words, Zhou Bule suddenly understood. With tears in his eyes, he looked at Chen Shaoping gratefully.

He rebuked Liu Yan angrily, "You almost ruined me!"

He even touched his face, still feeling the lingering fear.

The crowd, which had been surrounding them quite closely, instinctively backed away a bit after hearing Chen Shaoping's words.

They distanced themselves from the small bottle and the white sap on the floor, their eyes filled with deep wariness.

Seeing the behavior of this group, Chen Shaoping laughed and cupped his fists.

"Everyone here, quite a few of you were cursing me just now, weren't you?"

"If anyone still has doubts, feel free to try this white sap. It'll take effect very quickly."

"That young lady in the yellow clothes, your voice was the loudest when you were cursing me just now. Why don't you give it a try?"

The young lady in yellow waved her hands, her face flushing red as she stammered.

"Is it... just like Supervisor Han is now?"

Following her finger, everyone looked toward Han Chunhua.

They saw Han Chunhua shaking like a leaf, her body twisting incessantly while her hands kept clawing at her face.

She had already broken the skin, and a thick yellow fluid was oozing out, making those who saw it feel nauseous.

A few people near Han Chunhua quickly ran away upon seeing her miserable state, fearing they might be infected.

At the same time, they felt horror at Liu Yan's actions and began to condemn her incessantly.

Chen Shaoping took a look and suppressed his discomfort, trying not to vomit.

At the same time, he felt a moment of silence for Han Chunhua.

If she didn't restrain herself and kept scratching, her face would be ruined.

Even if it healed, she would be disfigured.

Han Chunhua glared at Liu Yan and questioned, "Liu Yan, is what Chen Shaoping said true?"

After hearing Chen Shaoping's words, she already believed ninety percent of it. The reason she still asked was out of a sliver of hope that it wasn't true.

Chen Shaoping stared at Liu Yan with cold eyes. "You'd better tell the truth, otherwise don't blame me for asking the police to take you back and question you thoroughly."

Liu Yan's eyes were dazed. She knew that her CCTV job, which she was so proud of, was over.

However, it would naturally be better if she didn't have to go to the police station.

"Supervisor Han, what Young Master Ping said is... is correct?"

Han Chunhua's vision went dark and she almost collapsed. Thinking of her arrogant manner just now, she knew she was finished.

"Liu Yan, you've killed me! We'll settle this debt slowly."

After saying that, she turned and left. No one stopped her.

Instead, they made a path for her.

Chen Shaoping guessed that Han Chunhua was heading to the hospital. He hadn't expected her to have an allergic constitution, which was why she was affected so easily.

He felt much more at ease.

Zhang Quanzhi's face was ashen. With an air of authority, he shouted angrily, "Liu Yan! Explain clearly, who instructed you to do this? Why did you want to harm Zhou Bule!"

Liu Yan was pale and her eyes were vacant, as if her soul had been sucked out. She mechanically repeated her words.

"Director Zhang, I just couldn't stand Zhou Bule. He's so ugly, I didn't want him to become famous. No one instructed me."

Chen Shaoping's eyes sharpened. Even at this stage, she was still protecting Li Wei.

Could it be that her current state was also an act?

"Liu Yan, it seems you still want to spend some time at the police station."

"Teacher Young Master Ping, please don't call the police yet. I guarantee I'll make her talk and give you and Zhou Bule an explanation."

Seeing that Chen Shaoping was about to report it to the police, Zhang Quanzhi immediately spoke up to stop him.

If the police were truly involved, many people might face public criticism, including himself.

"Director Zhang, since you've put it that way, I'll give you this face. I'll only look to you for the follow-up on this matter," Chen Shaoping said.

His mind raced: Calling the police would certainly be satisfying, but this might not constitute a criminal case, and the deterrent effect would be limited.

It would be better to have Zhang Quanzhi owe him a favor and let CCTV handle it internally; the results might be even better.

He also wanted to see how Zhang Quanzhi and CCTV would handle it.

As for the video, since Liu Yan had confessed, he didn't plan on bringing it out.

Seeing Chen Shaoping agree, Zhang Quanzhi looked relieved. "Teacher Young Master Ping, thank you."

Then he shouted at the crowd, "Disperse, everyone disperse! Get back to what you should be doing."

Director Ji felt a lingering fear, glad he hadn't said anything he shouldn't have.

He secretly wiped away some sweat and took Zhou Bule to the rehearsal.

Chen Shaoping was about to follow them when Zhang Quanzhi called out to him.

"Teacher Young Master Ping, I'm sorry. I didn't see the message you sent me immediately, and you were wronged."

Zhang Quanzhi's attitude was sincere, knowing that Chen Shaoping had saved him some face.

"Director Zhang, you're too polite. I know you're busy," Chen Shaoping replied.

In the dressing room, people began to attend to their respective duties, throwing themselves back into the battle of preparation.

Just as Chen Shaoping was preparing to leave, Cheng Yiyi arrived in a hurry, pushing Manager Hu...

When she saw Chen Shaoping and Zhang Quanzhi together, her eyes lit up.

"Director Zhang, Teacher Young Master Ping, hello," Cheng Yiyi said with a smile.

"Didn't we just part ways? You just left, didn't you? Why are you back? Is there something else?" Zhang Quanzhi asked.

Manager Hu wasn't using his crutch today; instead, he was in a wheelchair.

He grinned and said, "Director Zhang, I want to compress the time for our traditional Peking Opera and add a performance that combines modern songs with opera."

Cheng Yiyi's face turned slightly red, looking a bit embarrassed. "Director Zhang, Teacher Young Master Ping, we want to sing the song you wrote, 'rain flower stone'."

Hearing this, Chen Shaoping smiled and said, "I have no problem with it, but this song might not be very suitable for this gala, right?"

After saying that, he turned his head to look at Zhang Quanzhi, wanting to hear his thoughts.

After hearing Cheng Yiyi and Manager Hu's words, Zhang Quanzhi's mind immediately became active. If they could combine Peking Opera with modern songs and still fit the gala's theme...

It would definitely give people a refreshing feeling.

Moreover, there was already a precedent; the massive success of 'rain flower stone' was the best proof.

Zhang Quanzhi looked at Chen Shaoping. At this moment, he was moved.

"Teacher Young Master Ping, could you write a song that combines opera and promotes positive energy?"

Zhang Quanzhi's gaze swept over the faces of Cheng Yiyi and Manager Hu. "The idea is good, but the key is the song. Without a suitable song, everything is empty talk."

"If it's 'rain flower stone', then there's no need."

After speaking, his gaze finally landed on Cheng Yiyi.

He gestured toward Cheng Yiyi with his chin, gave her a look, and finally looked back at Chen Shaoping.

Cheng Yiyi understood Zhang Quanzhi's hint, and her heart rate suddenly accelerated. She took a deep breath and slowly moved to Chen Shaoping's side.

Grabbing his arm, she shook it gently. "Teacher Young Master Ping, please write one. I know you can definitely do it. We won't take a single cent of the song's earnings."

As soon as she finished speaking, her face turned as red as an apple. She lowered her head shyly, not daring to look at Chen Shaoping.

Manager Hu had a look of surprise. Was this still the Cheng Yiyi he had watched grow up?

When did she learn to do this?

Chen Shaoping thought to himself, 'Good grief, she's even using a cutesy voice.'

It was the most beautiful, yet most unnatural cutesy voice he had ever heard.

It was also the most awkward and flawed display of acting spoiled he had ever seen.